[7.9 Lithium Battery News] Hunan Chenzhou Discovers 490 Million mt of Lithium Ore | South Korea Urges US to Lift or Reduce Auto Tariffs

[CPCA: Auto Industry Profit Margin Reaches 4.3% in Jan-May, Improving from 4.1% in Jan-AprZ2/>Data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) shows that under the stimulus of vehicle replacement subsidy policies, China produced 12.76 million vehicles from January to May 2025, up 11% YoY. During the same period, the automotive sector generated 4.1283 trillion yuan in revenue (up 7% YoY), incurred 3.6351 trillion yuan in costs (up 8% YoY), and recorded 178.1 billion yuan in profits (down 11.9% YoY). The auto industry's profit margin stood at 4.3%, remaining below the 5.7% average for downstream industrial enterprises but showing improvement from the 4.1% margin in January-April. In May alone, the sector reported 873.1 billion yuan in revenue (up 8% YoY), 771.5 billion yuan in costs (up 8% YoY), and 45.6 billion yuan in profits (down 27.1% YoY). The May profit margin reached 5.2%, improving significantly from April but declining sharply from 7.5% in May 2024. (Cailian Press)

[490 Million Tons of Lithium Ore Discovered in Chenzhou, HunanZ4/>According to the Hunan Provincial Department of Natural Resources, through innovative geological prospecting theories and prolonged exploration, the Jijiaoshan mining area in Linwu County, Chenzhou City, Hunan Province, has identified a super-large altered granite-type lithium deposit. The project submitted 490 million tons of lithium ore resources, containing 1.31 million tons of lithium oxide. This super-large deposit also contains associated strategic minerals like rubidium, tungsten, and tin, with all resource quantities being newly discovered. (Cailian PressZ5/>[National Energy Group's Largest Electrochemical ESS in Guangxi Receives Approval]

National Energy Group announced that Longyuan Power Guangxi's Beiliu 500 MW/1,000 MWh shared energy storage project recently received approval from the Beiliu Development and Reform Bureau. Located in Beiliu, Yulin, Guangxi, the facility will have 500 MW installed capacity/1,000 MWh energy storage capacity, occupying approximately 100 mu. It will utilize LFP batteries, comprising 100 energy storage units each integrating battery systems and PCS step-up units. Upon completion, the project can store 1 million kWh of clean electricity per charge cycle, with annual full charge-discharge cycles exceeding 250 times and annual energy throughput reaching approximately 250 million kWh. Compared to thermal power plants with equivalent output, it will reduce standard coal consumption by 75,000 tons and CO2 emissions by 195,000 tons annually. (Cailian Press)

[CNGR: High-Nickel Materials Compatible with All Solid-State Battery Types]CNGR stated on its interactive platform that high-nickel and ultra-high-nickel materials dominate solid-state battery precursor applications, with the company's offerings suitable for all three solid-state battery technologies - sulphide, oxide, and polymer. With the development of solid-state battery technology, the company's high-nickel and ultra-high-nickel materials will witness significant growth opportunities. According to Frost & Sullivan data, the company's global market shares for high-nickel and ultra-high-nickel ternary cathode precursors reached 31.7% and 89.5% respectively in 2024. (Finance Link)

[Tibet's First Automotive Industry Base Officially Launches Construction] The "Tibet Release" official account reported on July 8 that the groundbreaking ceremony for Chengli Automobile Industrial Park and Xiashui Township High-Standard Factory Construction Project was recently held in Qonggyai County's Tibet Aid Industrial Park, Shannan City, marking the formal initiation of Tibet's first specialized vehicle manufacturing enterprise - Qonggyai County Chengli Automobile Industrial Base. Covering 42 mu (approx. 28,000 m²) of land with 10,700 m² of construction area, the project will create a modern industrial space integrating automobile assembly, production, and sales functions. (Finance Link)

[South Korea Urges US to Eliminate or Reduce Auto and Steel Tariffs] South Korea's Ministry of Industry stated via email that the final trade agreement with the US must address industrial tariff issues, emphasizing the critical importance of eliminating or reducing auto and steel tariffs. Korean Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo conveyed this stance during his meeting with US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo in Washington. (Finance Link)